Ronald W. Debry

Biography

I work at the intersection of phylogenetics, evolutionary biology, and molecular biology. I use DNA sequences to infer phylogenetic relationships. I also use phylogenies to help discover how gene sequences evolve. For example: What sort of regularities are there in the mutation process that generates molecular-level variation? What role does natural selection play, especially in places where traditionally we do not expect it to be very effective? An exciting new wrinkle in my lab is a project in which we directly alter the E. coli chromosome and measure the fitness effects of the changes.

Research Interest

DNA-based Identification of Forensically Important Flies